Loose-leaf binder



` July 13, 1943- c. v. sT. Louls 2,324,244

LOOSE LEAF B INDER l Filed Dec. 12, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet ZO Y im". W *Y @j 6 am Z 3@ g \39 y 2Q. Q7 3` 73 J5 /l U w -1 Jwfzzo.-

.V @kan/,0,5 V was July E3, l943. c. v. sT. -Lol-.115

LOOSE LEAF BINDER Filed Dec. l2, 1938 J0 zg l2 7,3

I C i Q7 3 M 46 -ZQ i V i i Iul `Q M u 2Q *Y L4 VN .'5 Sheets-Sheet 2 `Iuly 13, 1943. c. v. sT. Louis LOOSE LEAF BINDER Filed Dec. l2, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet I5 Patented July 13, 1943 LOOSE-LEAF BINDER Charles V. St. Louis, Chicago, Ill., assigner to Wilson-.Jones Company, Chicago, lil., a corporation of Massachusetts Application December 12, 1938, Serial No. 245,141

1S Claims.

This invention relates to a loose leaf binder particularly adapted to receive a plurality of banks of overlapping sheets and to shift a portion of the sheets in the binder longitudinally relative to the rest of the sheets.

It is an object of this invention to provide a loose leaf binder with simple and elicient means' for shifting one series oi sheet retaining prongs longitudinally of the binder relative to the other series of sheet retaining prongs and With releasable means for preventing accidental shifting of said prongs when the binder is in its intermedi ate position. It is a further object of this invention to provide means for permitting ready access to the inside of the metal structure and to provide interchangeable parts so that any part of the binder which may be damaged in use may be replaced without the necessity of returning the binder to the factory. Other objects of this invention will become apparent upon reading the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is an end elevation of a preferred embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is an end view, partly in section and partly in elevation, of the binder in intermediate position;

Figure 3 is an end elevation of the parts in disassembled relationship;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary detail view of the mechanism in position to permit shifting;

Figure 5 is a top plan view of the binder in intermediate position;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary top plan view of a modified embodiment of the invention;

Figure 7 is a cross sectional view taken along the line VII-VH of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along the line VIII-VIII of Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a longitudinal sectional View taken along the line IX-IX of Figure 8; and

Figure l0 is a detail perspective view of the structure shown in Figure 9. v

In the drawings, the reference numerals 2 and 3 designate a pair of back sections hinged together as indicated at 4. The back sections 2 and 3 are provided with angular ber strips 6 and "I, respectively, to provide a neat appearanceA and to prevent scratching or marring any surface upon which the binder may be handled by the hinge 4. Cover members 8 and 9 are hinged to the back sections 2 and 3, as indicated at I@ and I I, respectively. As shown in Figure 3, removal of the pintle from either of the hinges lil or Ii will enhinge 4 to provide easy inspection of the interior of the metal. If it is desired to remove any part the pintle may be withdrawn from the hinge 4.

A box member I2 is mounted in the back section 2, and a somewhat similar box member I3 is mounted in the back section 3. The box member i2 includes a middle wall I4, a pair of walls IE and IS extending at substantially right angles from the longitudinal edges of the middle Wall in opposite directions, and a pair of end walls II. The wall I5 is provided with extensions curled to form hinge lugs I8 adapted to cooperate with hinge lugs i9, formed on the longitudinal edge of the back section 2, and hinge lugs 20, formed on the hinge plate 2| secured to the cover 8, to form the hinge Iii. The Wall I6 is provided with extensions curled to form hinge lugs 22 adapted to cooperate with hinge lugs 23, formed on the opposite longitudinal edge of the back section 2, and with similar hinge lugs 24 and 25, formed on the back section 3 and the boX member I3, respectively, to form hinge 4.

The hinge d is provided with a plurality of gaps 25 and the hinge lil is provided with a plurality of gaps 2l each of equal predetermined length. These gaps are so arranged that the cover 8 and the box member I2 may be shifted longitudinally relative to the rest of the binder by manipulation of the cover 8. The back section 2 is iixed relative to the back section 3 and does not move with the box member I 2. A prong carrying plate 23, upon which curved sheet retaining prongs 29 are rigidly secured, is permanently secured to the wall I5 by riveting or welding. A similar prong carrying plate 3B, having prongs 3l, is welded or riveted to the wall I5 of the box member I3.

Accidental shifting of the box member i2 is prevented by a lat-3h 32 pivoted to one end wall il by means of a pin 33. A springr 35i having its centrai portion wrapped around the pin 33 has one end bearing against the underside of the wall lil and its other end bearing against the latch 32 to urge one end of the latch into an aperture S5 in the back section E to prevent movement oi 'the box member E2 relative to the baci; section E. A. ringer lever is pivoted to one end the latch as indicated at S7, and projects through an aperture 3S in the wall i4. Depression of the nn er lever causes disengagement of the latch 32 from the aperture 35 so as to permit shifting or" the box member I2 relative to the back section 2. The lever 33 is provided with a notch 39 so that the lever may be retained depressed able the sections 2 or 3 to be pivoted around the 55- postion, as shown in Figure 47 and the pmngs 29 may be shifted back and forth as many times as desired without the necessity of releasing the latch for each shifting operation.

A projection 40, preferably integral with the lever 3S, extends from the lever 36 through an aperture 4l in the wall i 3. Whenever the binder is closed the projection dil engages the wall i6 to disengage the notch 39 from the edge of the aperture 38 and the spring 34 then forces the latch 32 into shift preventing position. Accordingly, Whenever the binder is moved from closed position to its intermediate or fully open position it is impossible for the box member l2 to shift accidentally.

The box member i3 is provided with a safety prong 42 projecting thro-ugh the wall I5' and adapted to pass through an aperture 43 into the box member l2 when the binder is closed. The length of the aperture 43 is substantially equal to the width of the safety prong so that the binder can nct be closed when the binder is in its shift position. A pair of curved latching bars 44 projecting through an aperture 45 in the wall I5 is adapted to enter apertures 46 in the wall l5'. A lock slide 4l is mounted in the box member i3 adjacent the wall i6'. The latching bars 4d are each provided with a pair of notches 48 adapted to engage the lock slide to hold the binder in either intermediate or closed position.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 6 to 10, inclusive, the structure of the binder is the same as that hereinabove described, except in connection with the means for preventing accidental shifting of the box member I2 relative to the box member i3.

The shift preventing means includes a fiat spring member 49 riveted to the bottom wall of the back section 3', as indicated at 5d. The free end 5I is shaped to fit around the pintle of the hinge 4 and. iits in one of the gaps 245 when the binder is in its normal position to prevent accidental shifting of thc box member relative to the box member i3. rIhe flat spring 4S is curved, as indicated at 52, to provide a raised portion near the end 5i. One edge cf the raised portion is provided with a notch 53.

A bar 54 is rigidly secured to the lock slide di and is spaced therefrom by a plurality of strips or spacing blocks 55. The forward end of the bar 54 is provided with a cam shaped projection 56 adapted to engage the notch 53 when the lock slide 4l" is pressed inwardly to disengage the curved latching bars 44'. Continued application of pressure on the lock slide 4l' after the release of the curved latching bars 44 will cause the projection 55 to engage the portion 52 of the fiat spring and raise the end 5I out of the gap 2G so that the box member I2 may be shifted. .A spring 51 having one end secured to the .lock slide 41 and its other end to the box member i3' returns the lock slide to its latching position upon release of the pressure, so that the end 5l will automatically move into shift preventing posi` tion as soon as the box members are moved back to their normal position after any shifting operation.

Although I have described two preferred embodiments of my invention in considerable detail, it will be understood that the description is intended to be illustrative, rather than restrictive, as many details may be modified or changed without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Accordingly, I do not desire to be restricted to the exact structure described, ex-

ept as limited by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a loose leaf binder, a back section, a boX member mounted in said back section, said box member being shiftable longitudinally relative to said back section, and means pivotally secured to said box member cooperating with means on said back section to prevent longitudinal shifting of said box member.

2'. In a loose leaf binder, a pair of back sections hinged together, a box member secured to each of said back sections, one of said box members being slidable relative to said back section to which it is secured, and means on said slidable box member engaging said back section to which it is secured to prevent said relative sliding of said slidable box member.

3. In a loose leaf binder, a pair of back sections hinged together, an aperture in one of said back sections, a box member mounted in said apertured back section and shiftable longitudinally relative thereto, and a latch secured to said box member and engageable with said aperture to prevent shifting of said box member.

4. In a loose leaf binder, a back section, a box member shiftable relative to said back section, means pivoted to said box member engageable with said back section to prevent shifting of said box member, means operable to move said first mentioned means from shift preventing position, and means to holdv said first mentioned means in inoperative position.

5. In a loose leaf binder, a back section, a box member shiftable relative to said back section, a latch pivoted to said box member, one end of said latch engageable with said back section to prevent shifting of said box member and a lever operable to move said latch to inoperative position, said lever having a notch engageable with one wall of said box member to hold said latch in inoperative position.

6. In a loose leaf binder, a back section provided with an aperture, a box member slidably secured at its opposite edges to said back section and shiftable longitudinally relative thereto, a latch secured to said box member and engageable with said aperture to prevent shifting of said box member, a spring urging said latch towards shift preventing position, and finger operative means adapted to move said latch from shift preventing position against the action of said spring.

7. In a loose leaf binder, a back section, a box member having its edges secured by pintles to opposite longitudinal edges of saidback section whereby said box member may be moved angularly relative to said back section around either of 8. In a loose leaf binder, a pair of back sections hinged together along one edge, a cover member hinged to the opposite edge of one of said back sections, and a box member slidably mounted on said back section, said box member having one longitudinal edge connected to one of Ysaid hinges and its other longitudinal edge to said other hinge.

9. In a loose leaf binder, a back section hinged along one longitudinal edge to another back section and along its other longitudinal edge to a cover member, a box member slidably mounted on said hinges, and releasable means to prevent sliding of saidl box member on said hinges.

l0. In a loose leaf binder, a back section, a box member hinged to said back section and shiftable relative thereto along said hinge, a dat spring secured at one end to said back section, the free end of said spring engaging said hinge to prevent shifting of said box member, and means to disengage said spring from said hinge.

11. In a loose leaf binder, a pair of back sections hinged together, a lock slide mounted on one of said back sections, a box member shiftably mounted on said hinge, means on said one back section engaging said hinge to prevent shifting of said box member, and means on said lock slide to move said first mentioned means from shift preventing position.

12. In a loose leaf binder, a back section, a lock slide mounted on said back section, a box member hinged to said back section and shiftable relative thereto along said hinge, a flat spring secured at one end to said back section, the free end of said spring engaging said hinge to prevent shifting of said box member, and cam means secured to said lock slide and engageable with said spring to move said spring from shift preventing position.

13. In a loose leaf binder, a pair of back sections hinged together, means for holding said back sections closed, a bo-x member slidably mounted in one of said back sections, means to prevent accidental sliding of said box member, and a single means for releasing said rst and second mentioned means to permit opening of said back sections and sliding of said box member.

14. In a loose leaf binder, a pair of back sectionsI and a pair of box members hinged together, one of said box members being shiftable relative to said back sections and said other box member, a fiat spring secured to one of said back sections and engageable with said hinge to prevent shifting of said shiftable box member, and finger operated means to disengage said spring from said hinge to permit shifting of said box member, said spring automatically re-engaging said hinge upon release of said last mentioned means whenever said shiftable box member is returned to its normal position.

15. In a loose leaf binder, a pair of hingedly connected back sections, a box member mounted in one of said back sections, said box member being shiftable longitudinally relative to said one back section, and means on said box member cooperating with means on said one back section to prevent longitudinal shifting of said box member in all angular positions of said one back section.

16. In a loose leaf binder having complementary back sections: a hinge connection between said back sections, said connection enabling the sections to move longitudinally relative to each other; a releasable latch having a part normally positioned between longitudinally spaced abutments on the complementary sections to hold said sections against relative longitudinal motion; and means for releasing said latch to free the back sections for relative longitudinal shifting in any position of hinged relationship.

17. In a loose leaf binder having complementary sections, each carrying a plurality of impaling prongs: a hinge connection between said sections comprising, interengaging hinge loops on said sections and a hinge pin passing through said loops, said hinge loops being shorter than the spaces into which they extend so as to enable relative longitudinal shifting of the sections; a releasable latch having a part normally disposed between adjacent hinge loops on the two sections to hold the sections against relative endwise movement at one limit of their permitted movement; and means readily accessible from the exterior of the binder for releasing said latch.

18. In a loose leaf binder: complementary sections, each carrying a plurality of impaling prongs; means hingedly connecting the sections in a manner enabling limited relative longitudinal motion between the sections to provide for altering the positions of the prongs transversely of the prong axes; and a Vspring latch carried by one section and adapted to snap intoan operative position engaging the other section to hold the sections at one limit of their permitted relative longitudinal motion upon longitudinal shifting of said sections relative to each other to said limit.

CHARLES V. ST. LOUIS. 

